The most to lose: Social Security ‘reform’ to hit rural America hardest

No American group has more to lose in Social Security reform than farmers, ranchers and other rural dwellers, according to USDA demographic and income data. The reasons are evident and intertwined: Rural America is older, poorer and more dependent on federal retirement and health programs than metro America. Moreover, the need for programs like Social Security and Medicare will increase in coming decades because rural America is aging faster than the rest of the nation while its economic growth is slower. Statistically speaking. The most current data, courtesy of USDA’s Economic Research Service, shows that in 2000 and 2001:

About the Author

Alan Guebert was raised on an 800-acre, 100-cow southern Illinois dairy farm. After graduation from the University of Illinois in 1980, he served as a writer and editor at Professional Farmers of America, Successful Farming magazine and Farm Journal magazine. His syndicated agricultural column, The Farm and Food File, began in June, 1993, and now appears weekly in more than 70 publications throughout the U.S. and Canada. He and spouse Catherine, a social worker, have two adult children. farmandfoodfile.comMore Stories by Alan Guebert